Empty seat at World Cup for French sports journalist imprisoned in Algeria

Published15 June 2026

A seat is being left empty in the press box at every France game at the World Cup to highlight the case of a French sports journalist who is in prison in Algeria.

Christophe Gleizes was jailed in 2025 for seven years for supporting terrorism.

French journalists' unions have called on Algeria to release Gleizes, who specialises in African football for the Paris-based So Foot magazine.

On Monday, journalists held up scarves saying 'Free Gleizes' before France boss Didier Deschamps' news conference at the New Jersey New York Stadium to preview Tuesday's game with Senegal (20:00 BST).

Gleizes' mother Sylvie has travelled to the World Cup to highlight her son's case.

She told BBC Sport on Monday that his accreditation for the tournament was personally approved by Fifa president Gianni Infantino.

She added that her son felt "cut off" from the world.

Gleizes was detained in May 2024 after travelling to Algeria in for an article on the club JSK, based in Tizi Ouzou.

He was subsequently found guilty of holding exchanges with a proponent of self-determination for Algeria's Kabyle minority.

Representatives from about 40 different French media outlets said after his sentencing that "the imprisonment of a journalist for carrying out his profession is a red line that must never be crossed".

As well as a seat in the press box, a chair in each France news conference is being left empty to highlight his case.

Journalist Vincent Duluc, who works for French daily sports newspaper L'Equipe, asked a question to Deschamps on behalf of Gleizes about hydration breaks on Monday.

"I hope for his sake and his family's that he can be here as soon as possible and ask his questions himself," Deschamps replied.

Related topics

Football

FIFA World Cup 2026

France

Africa Sport

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